Eric Weiner

Whos happiest where, and why

Long-time NPR correspondent and self-described grouch Eric Weiner spent a year traveling to ten placesSwitzerland, Iceland, India, Moldoviaall to ask: why are these people happy? (Or, in Moldovias case, not.) The result is The Geography of Bliss, a witty, well-written treatise on how subjective well-being is related to our environment. But if youre looking for hard facts, look the other way; Weiner tells his story through choice quotes and emblematic scenesthink Theroux channeling Stumbling on Happiness scribe Daniel Gilbert. This lack of hard science and overabundance of quotes might be maddening, but such chattiness should lend itself perfectly to a talk. And, one hopes on account of Weiners self-professed continued grouchiness, a group hug. Elliott Bay Book Co., 101 S. Main St., 624-6600, www.elliottbaybook.com. 7:30 p.m. KARLA STARR